Borat Subsequent Moviefilm Review: 7 Ups & 3 Downs
2. It Feels Less "Real" Than The First Film
One of the most thrilling aspects of the original film was never quite being sure what was real and what was a total fabrication, the genuine interactions with actual bigots and staged sequences being blended so deftly.
Perhaps in part because we as audiences are so much wiser to the contrivances of reality TV, the sequel's more stagey sequences don't convince quite so thoroughly.
Though we can never be 100% sure who is completely clueless and who is fully in on the joke, the overall result feels more obviously staged, and also pieced together through editing magic.
While this approach does allow Cohen to deliver some more unexpectedly over-the-top laughs at pivotal moments, it also means that many of the awkward set-ups don't reach their fully embarrassing potential due to how dubiously "real" they are - especially when Borat spends a few days living with a pair of conspiracy theorists.